Carbureter.



No. 643,306. Patented Feb. I3, I900. V. J. A. REY.

CABBURETER.

(Application filed May 29, 1899.)

2 Sheets--She9t I.

(No Model.)

Wu II m tnesses;

TME NORRIS Pzrsrrs co, FHOTO-LKTHO, wnsuwurom n. c.

No. 643,306. Patented Feb. l3, I900.

V. J. A. REY.

CABBURETER.

(Application filed May 29, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Shawl 2.

(No Model.)

n. c ME News PEYERS co, PnoTo-umou WASHINSTON llnirrnn STATES PATENT rricn.

VALENTINE J. A. REY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA,

'CARBURETER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 643,306, dated February 13, 1900..

Application filed May 29, 1899. Serial No. 718,762. (No model.)

To all whom, itnmy concern:

Be it known that I, VALENTINE J. A. REY, I

a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, county of San Francisco, and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas-Generating Apparatus; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,forn1ingapart of this specification.

Myinvention relates to gasgeneratingmachines and to certain useful improvements therein.

Myimprovements consist in a chamber for combining air with hydrocarbon oils, means to control the temperature of such vessel and its contents, devices to render the relative amounts of air and carbon or the richness of the resulting gas contingent upon the temperature of the carbureting-chamber and to drain the same of surplus hydrocarbon oil, and devices to impel the air and gas and to store the same for regular distribution.

The objects of myinvention are to provide a simple organized machine by means of which burning gas can be provided without skilled attendance in either hot or cold climates and under any range of temperature, such as occurs in use, and to produce gas of a uniform quality. To these ends I construct a gas-producing machine as shown in the drawings herewith, forming a part of this specification.

Figure I is an elevation, partially in section, showing'a complete and connected machine made according to myinvention. Fig. II is an enlarged plan View, partially in section, of the valves of a hydraulic air and gas impelling apparatus. Fig. III is a side View, also partially in section, of Fig. II. Fig. IV is a side view, partially in section, of the devices for controlling the amount of pure air admitted to or mixed with the gas after it has passedfrom the carbureting-chamber. Fig.V is a plan view of Fig. IV. Fig. V1 is a side View, partially in section, of the inlet-way for .pure air added to the gas. Fig. VII is an end view of Fig. VI. Fig. VIII is a section through a check-valve in the surplus-air-inlet pipe. Fig. IX is a side view of a cam to open the eduction-valve of the hydraulic air-impellin g device shown in Figs. IV and V.

Similar numerals of reference are applied to corresponding parts throughout.

In illustrating my invention as a complete organized apparatus I have chosen a fluidoperated piston to impel the air or gas, such force being most suitable and available where water under pressure is supplied from a public or home service, and have as a necessary part of the apparatus shown the manner of applying and controlling such water pressure. I have also illustrated as a portion of my present apparatus a means to drain and return to the carburetingchamber surplus liquid or oil not volatilized on its first circuit therethrough, such means consisting of devices shown and claimed in my application for Letters Patent, Serial No. 707,747, for improvements in combining apparatus for gases and liquids, filed March 4, 1899, and consequently not forming a part of my present invention. 1

Referring now to the drawings, and especially to Fig. Ithereof, l is the main mixing chamber or vessel, cylindrical in form and inclosed by an enlargement forming an annular chamber at the base 2,so as to receive,when re quired,an outerinclosingcasing3,as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. I, forming an annular space 4 around the chamber 1 to contain heated air, as will be hereinafter explained. This outer casing 3 Ishowin dotted linesbecause it is dispensed with in normal temperatures and is not an essential part of the machine or appaparatus except in cold climates and exposed situations. The main vessel 1 is provided with an air-inlet way 5 and a check-valve 6 at the top, a glazed aperture 7, through which the internal operation can be examined, and a perforated bottom 8, opening into the chamber 9, into which chamber is drained any surplus oil not volatilized or combined with air in the main chamber 10 above. The bottom porently explained. The original supply of liquid, usually hydrocarbon oil, passes through a pipe 13 from some source of supply, and when such source is not high enough to cause a sufficient pressure by gravitya pump 14 is provided to force the oil through a pipe 15 into a spraying-nozzle 17, set central in the main chamber 10, as shown in Fig. I. The liquid or oil thus discharged in spray is in corporated with air drawn into the chamber 10 in the opposite direction through the valve 6 by the action of a pneumatic pump or exhausting apparatus 18, as hereinafter explained.

Referring next to the devices for heating the main vessel 1 when the latter is exposed to a low temperature and illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. I, this consists of the external casing 3 and an air-inlet pipe 19, communicating with the annular space 4 and provided with a flared extension 20, containing a heatingburner 21, supplied by a pipe 22, that communicates with the gas-service pipe 93. The heated air is drawn into the annular space 4 by the draft of the chimney 23, communicating with the space 4, and is placed opposite to the inlet-pipe 19, as shown. The amount of heat or the amount of oil supplied to the burner 21 is regulated in the following manner: Within the main chamber 10 is a thermostat consisting of a pendent pipe 24, having at its lower end an enlarged chamber 25, containing mercury, that is by means of the pipe 24 in communication with a diaphragm apparatus 26, (shown enlarged in Fig. IV,) that operates a lever 27, which by means of a link-rod 28 connects to a cock 29 in the pipe 22, and thus regulates the supply of gas to the burner 21 by the temperature in the main vessel 10. When the temperature in the main vessel 10 rises to some predetermined point by the expansion of the mercury in the pipe 24 and the vessel 25, the lever 27 is raised and the cook 29 is closed or partially closed, and the heat from the burner 21 is reduced accordingly. The reverse operation will be understood without further explanation.

Liquid not volatilized or taken up in the chamber 10 by the air entering at 9 drains down through the fibrous material 11 and the perforated bottom 8 and flows into the vessel 12, which contains a valve 30 and a float 31 to operate the same, so that as soon as the vessel 12 fills with liquid up to a height required to raise the float 31 the valve 30 is opened and the liquid contained in the vessel 12 descends into the pipe 13 to be again returned to the chamber 10, thus providing for the circulation and return of surplus liquid admitted through the pipe 15. In this manner it will be seen that as the rate at which the liquid or oil is volatilized and also the amount that will be absorbed depend in a great degree on temperature the apparatus becomes automatic or self-regulating in respect to the liquid or oil consumed.

Similar regulation of the quantity of airadmitted to the chamber 10 and of the richness of the gas produced is attained by nearly the same means that controls the fluid or oil. Air is drawn through the inlet-way 5, the chambers 10 and 9, and the pipe 33 by means of a pumping or exhausting apparatus 32, as shown in Fig. I, and in case the temperature of the chamber rises so as to cause an increased volatilization of the liquid or oil and richness of the gas the gas is diluted with pure air on its passage from the chamber 9 in the following manner: The pipe 33 is intersected by a branch 34, having an outward check-valve 35, and an inlet-register valve 36. (Shown enlarged in Figs. VI, VII, and VIII.) The valve 36 is of oscillating register type and is operated by the link-rod 28 from the lever 27 and by changes of temperature in the chamberlO, as follows: iVhen the temperature in the chamber 10 rises above a normal range, the expansion of the mercury in the pipe 24 and the vessel 25 raises the lever 27, opening accordingly the inlet-valve 36, admitting pure air to mingle with the gas passing out of the chamber 9, and diluting the same to some desired standard of richness to which the apparatus is adjusted. A check-valve 37 in the pipe 33 prevents backflow into the chamber 10.

Referring now to other connected parts of the apparatus, the pump or exhaustive device 32 consists of an inverted open-mouthed vessel 38, guided by a rod 39 in the pipe 32 and is buoyed upon and sealed by water in a tank 40 in the usual manner of such apparatus. The rod 39 extends down through the tube 42 and is attached to the top of the tank 49 and connects to a piston 43, moving in a cylinder 44, supplied with air or water under pressure from a pipe 45 and escapes after use through a waste-pipe 47. The vessel 38 is raised by this pressure under the piston 43 and descends by gravity when a stroke is completed, expelling the gas drawn in through the pipe 33 bya second pipe 48, which extends to a floating gas-holding vessel 49 in the tank 50. The action of the fluid under the piston 43 is controlled by distribution-valves at 52 (shown enlarged in Figs. II, III, and IX) and operated by a lever 53 and a rod 54, attached to the gas-holding vessel 50,as shown in Fig. I.

Referring further to the valves at 52 and to Figs. II and III of the drawings, the former is a view from the bottom of the distribution devices at 52 in Fig. I, partially in section to show the valves 57 58 therein. The body or housing containing these valves is disposed in four chambers 62, 63, 64, and 65, the two former communicating diagonally with a nipple 67, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. II. This nipple 67 is inserted in the bottom of the cylinder 44 and communicates to the piston 43. The inlet-pipe 45 communicates with the inlet-chamber 64, and fluid is admitted from these to the chamber 63 and to the cylinder 44 by opening the valve 58, as shown in Fig. II. The exhaust or eduction chamber 62 is ITS also in communication with the nipple 67 and the cylinder 44, as indicated by dotted lines in Figs. II and III, so that opening the valve 57 permits the fluid in the cylinder 44 to. pass into the chamber and escape through the pipe 47. The valves 57 58 are operated by the cams 68 69 on the shaft 70, that bear upon and press inward the stems 59 and 60. This shaft 70 is intermittently turned by the lever 53 and the pawl 72, that engages the induction-valve cam 68, as shown in Figs. I and III. The rod. 54 is, as before explained, connected to the gas-holding vessel49, which loyits movement upward and downward operates the lever 53 and the distribution-valves 57 58, and in this manner producing at each full stroke a coincident movement of the pump or exhausting vessel 38.

The cams (i8 69, which are fastened on the shaft 70, are different in form, as shown in Figs. III and IX, the one, 69, to operate the exhaust-valve 57 being more abrupt, as seen in Fig. IX. These cams are advanced one tooth each time the vessel 49 rises and falls, coming alternately in contact with and moving inward the stems 59 and 60, as will be further explained in connection with the cycle of operation.

The air-inlet valve 36 (shown enlarged in Figs. VI and VII) is of the common oscillating register type. A disk 76, mounted on a stem 73 and held lightly against its seat by a spring 75, is turned by the rod 28, as before explained.

The check-valves 35, 37, and 92 (illustrated by the enlarged section, Fig. VIII) consist of -a light disk 77, mounted on a stem 78, provided with a spring 79 to assist the closing movement. The seat 80 is screw-threaded and fits into a separable housing 82, that can.

have the form shown in either 35 or 37, as will be understood.

The valve 77 is made thin and flexible, and in order to attain the required rigidity I'place a sleeve 81 on the stem 78, forming a seat at the center against which the valve closes at the same time it bears on the seat 80.

Figs. IV and V are enlarged views of the thermostat to operate the air-inlet valve 36 and the cock 29, 83 being a flexible diaphragm clamped between the plates 84 85 and acting upon a piston 87, that slides in a short cylinder 88 and moves the lever 27 upward and downward by the expansion and contraction of a body of mercury contained in the pas sage 89, the tube 24, and the vessel 25. Adjustment of the piston 87, the lever 27, and the rod 28 is made by means of a screw 90, that bears upon and displaces mercury in the passage 89, and thus raises or lowers the piston 87 accordingly as this screw is moved outward orinward. The charge of mercury can be inserted or replenished by removing this screw.

Referring. now to the manner of operating, and supposing the temperature to be high enough to permit free volatilization of the hydrocarbon oil and the vessel 49 partially filled with gas, the pipe 13 is opened to the supply, starting the spray by means of the pump 14 at 17 in the chamber 10. The pipe 45 being opened and the piston 43 subjected to fluid-pressure raises the vessel 38, causing a partial vacuum therein, which by the connections already explained draws in airat the inlet 5, which meets and mingles with the sprayed oil in the chamber 10 and passes down through the filtering material 11 and through the pipe 33 into the vessel 38. The servicepipe 93, leading from the vessel 49, is then opened to the place of consumption, and this vessel sinks by gravity, and the lever 53 is depressed until the pawl 72 turns the cam 68, so as to disengage the stem of the inductionvalve 58, which instantly closes by action of the fluid-pressure, aided by a coil-spring 93. At the same time the cam 69 engages and presses in the stem 59 of the education-valve 57, opening the same and permitting the piston 43 and the vessel 38 to descend. A spring 94'holds the eduction or exhaust valve 57 shut when it is relieved from water-pressure As the vessel 38 descends, the gas therein, being prevented by the check-valves 37 and 35 from flowing back through the pipe 33, is forced out through the pipe 48 and acheck-valve 92 into the gas-holding vessel 49, filling and raising that vessel and the lever53 ready for another stroke, as before described. These operations go on automatically, producing gas of uniform quality so long as the temperature in the vessel 10 is normal or conforms to conditions for which the'apparatus is adjustedto suit the summer season, for example. If, however, the temperature falls, as in the winter, the rate at which the hydrocarbon oils can be volatilized is much slower, and the heating-jacket 3 is put into use by opening the pipe 22 to the gas-supply and lighting the burners 21. Hot air from these burners 21 ascends through the pipe 19 and fills the annular chamber 4 around the main vessel 1, escaping by a Vent-pipe or chimney 23, thus warming the chamber 10 and causing a more rapid volatilization of the hydrocarbon. When the temperature in the chamber 10 eX- ceeds some predetermined scale to which the apparatus is adjusted, the mercuryin the vessel 25 is expanded accordingly, the lever 27 is raised, the gas-supply cook 29 is closed or partially closed, and pure air is admitted through the inlet-valve 36 in the manner already explained. When the temperature in the chamber 10 falls to the normal workingpoiut, the mercury in the vessel 25 contracts and the reverse of the last-described operation takes place, so that the temperature and consequent rate of producing, also the quality or richness of the gas, are automatically regulated.

Having thus described the nature and objects of my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In gas-generating apparatus, aoarburet- IIO ing-chamber,a spraying device therein for the introduction of hydrocarbon fluid, a valved air-inlet way at the top, filtering material at the base, a perforated bottom below said filtering material, an inclosure outside said perforated bottom, and means for drawing off the aerated vapor from said inclosure, substantially as specified.

2. In gasgeneratin g apparatus, a carbureting-chamber, a spraying device therein, a valved inlet for air, porous filtering material at the base, a perforated bottom, an annular chamber around and below said bottom, an outlet for the aerated vapor from said chamber, and a removable casing adapted to fit upon said annular chamber, substantially as specified.

3. In gas-generating apparatus, a cylindrical carbureting-chamber, a base-chamber integral therewith, of larger diameter than said carbureting-chamber into which the latter projects, a casing supported upon said base-chamber surrounding said cylindrical chamber, and forming an annular space between them, an inlet for hot air into said annular space, and an outlet-flue for hot air therefrom, substantially as specified.

4. In gas -generating apparatus, a cylindrical carbureting-chamber, inlets for air and oil respectively, a surrounding base-chamber larger than the carbureting-chamber,a jacketcasing supported upon the said base-chamber, a hot-air inlet and fiue outlet to and from said jacket, an outlet for aerated vapor from said base-chamber, an air-inlet to said outlet, and means for varying and regulating said air-inlet controlled by the temperature of the vapor within the carbureter, substantially as specified.

5. In gas-generating apparatus, a carbureting-chamber, ajacket-casing surrounding the same, a gas-burner to heat the interior of the casing and the carbureting-chamber inclosed therein, and a thermostat in the carburetingchamber connecting to and regulating the supply of gas to a burner by which the carbureting-chamber is heated, substantially as specified.

6. In gasgenerating apparatus, a carburetin g-chamber,a jacket-casing surrounding this chamber and means to heat the same, a thermostat to regulate the heat, also connecting to an air-inlet valve that opens into the gasconveying pipe and introduces pure air into the gas after the latterleaves the carburetingchamber, substantially as-specified.

7. In gas-generating apparatus, a carbureting-chamber, means to introduce and spray hydrocarbon oil therein, an inlet for air at the top of this chamber and an outlet for gas at the base thereof, a pump or exhausting vessel to draw air into the carbureter and exhaust the gas therefrom, an inlet-valve to admit pure air to the gas and dilute the same after it is drawn from the carbureter and a thermostat in the carbnreting-chamber connected to and controlling this air-inlet valve, substantially as specified.

8. In gas-generating apparatus, a carbureting-chamber, a jacket-casing inclosing the same, means to supply heat within this casing and heat the carbureting-chamber, a perforated bottom 8, a collecting-chamber beneath and around the base of the carbureting vessel, a drainwayin the bottom of this subchamber, a drain-chamber, and a float and valve by means of which surplus oil is returned to the oil-supply pipe, substantially as specified.

9. In gas-generating apparatus a main carbureting-chamber, means to supply hydrocarbon oil and air thereto and means to heat the carbureting-chamber, a gas-outlet pipe from said chamber, an air-inlet pipe to said outlet-pipe having a register-valve therein, a thermostat in said carbureting-chamber, a lever operated thereby and connection from the lever to the said oscillating register-valve to admit pure air to the gas after it is drawn from the carbureting-chamber substantially as specified.

VALENTINE J. A. REY.

WVitnesses:

ALFRED A. ENQUIST, HENRY II. BATES. 

